Iran: Azooma – A Hymn of the Vicious Monster

Whether you’re Iranian, Iraqi or Iroquois; whether you come from Aberdeen, Azerbaijan or Algeria, sometimes you just have to bang your head to powerful blast beats, stomach-churning riffs and masterly shredding. There isn’t much information about Azooma available, but if you like widescreen, Apocalyptic DM in the style of Nile or Gorguts, then check this bandcamp out. In fact even if you don’t like extreme music you should try it out because, to paraphrase Daniel Defoe, there are only two certainties in life: taxes and death metal.

<a href="http://xtreemmusic.bandcamp.com/album/a-hymn-of-the-vicious-monster">A Hymn of the Vicious Monster by AZOOMA</a>

Israel: Orphaned Land – Let the Truce Be Known

Ahead of their appearance at Bloodstock on 9 August, Orphaned Land have let us have the first play of their new video for the timely track Let the Truce Be Known. Almost two decades into their career, the folk-metal titans have stuck steadfastly to their message of positivity and Jewish-Arabic solidarity, to the extent that they have won several peace awards and have even been the subject of an online campaign to get them nominated for the Nobel prize. Their current sound is perhaps slightly more MOR-leaning than many would like, but their political/humanitarian stance remains deeply admirable. Despite being banned in most Arab League nations, a large section of their fanbase is made up of Muslim metalheads and their gigs in Turkey (the only Muslim majority country in which they are allowed to play) act as a magnet to visitors from all over the Middle East.

Egypt: Abu Ashley – Hussein Online (Habibi Mix)

Abu Ashley is a DJ and house producer from Port Said, Egypt, who lives in Brooklyn, New York. He’s been busy recently with a set on Rinse FM Paris, appearing on Boiler Room and releasing the Asmaa EP on Parka Records. This deep cut, Hussein Online, was recorded with a nod to the Cairo rooftop house scene.

So-called Oriental Trap is a newish club music sub-genre first brought to prominence by Saint in 2012. It is more common in the diasporic youth communities of America and Europe than it is in the Middle East but is still a notable indicator of the rise of Arabic influence on modern dance music, grime and hip-hop around the world.

Mali: Baba Sissoko – TchiWara

Those of you with Spotify could do much worse than spending the next 40 minutes listening to TchiWara, this year’s album by master tamani (talking drum) player and jeli, Baba Sissoko. (He is also no slouch on the ngoni, kamalengoni, electric guitar, balaphon, calebasse and sildrum.) TchiWara is a great album because it fuses Malian tradition with psych rock without diluting the elemental power of the former or weakening the heavy vibes of the latter. And if you don’t have Spotify, well, never fear, here is an album teaser on YouTube.

Thanks this month to DJ UMB. Please feel free to email suggestions for inclusion in future playlists to John@theQuietus.com